丨Atelier ITCH

Architects:Atelier ITCH

Area:115m²

Year:2024

Photographs:Kiwoong Hong

Text description provided by the architects. Villa de VOID was tucked between surrounding buildings, only coming into view after navigating through a narrow alley. The house we encountered was composed of two separate units: a semi-basement and a 1st floor, each with its own entrance. The semi-basement, with a ceiling height barely exceeding 2 meters, felt more like a storage space, and it was essential to find an effective way to connect it with the 1st floor. Given its location tightly enclosed by neighboring buildings, another key concern was how to bring ventilation and natural airflow into the interior. The couple who would live here both worked from home, and their newly adult son also spent much of his time at home. As the entire family spent extended hours indoors, we began the design process by addressing the shortcomings of the existing structure, envisioning a more open and connected home that would foster interaction and communication among family members.

In the language of spatial design, a "VOID" is one of the physical expressions of the aesthetics of subtraction. The 'Villa de VOID' project interprets the void space—connecting the basement and the ground floor—as the central core of the home. By carving out space, the void becomes the focal point that organizes the flow of the entire house. It is imagined as a place where the movements of the family naturally converge and, through this convergence, the space is filled once again. The area we chose to empty was the south-facing part of the building, which allowed us to connect the basement and the ground floor. Although it faced the rear of a neighboring building, this area still offered about 3 meters of yard space and access to southern light. By opening the floor in this area, we inserted a staircase that connects to the basement below and installed large windows toward the yard, allowing natural light to flood in and creating a greater sense of openness.

The first half of the staircase leading from the basement to the ground floor—extending up to the window that connects to the exterior—was designed as a unified element that ties the entire space together. This approach allows the basement, which could otherwise feel dark and confined, to appear naturally connected to the above-ground level, almost as if it were part of the outdoors. The remaining half-flight of stairs, from the window up to the ground floor, was designed as a lightweight metal structure, emphasizing a sense of openness and airiness to prevent the narrow space from feeling cramped.

The window beyond the kitchen originally opened onto a terrace. We transformed this terrace space by densely planting bamboo, turning the view into a natural backdrop for the kitchen. In a setting surrounded by buildings, the bamboo served a dual purpose: it screened the view from neighboring properties and created a window that opened onto nature. As the kitchen is where the family gathers for all three daily meals, we wanted this space to feel open rather than confined—a place of psychological relief. The bamboo softens the direct southern light, allowing gentle rays and shadows to filter through, shaping the atmosphere of the entire kitchen. To preserve this natural light, we eliminated upper cabinets and instead planned the entire wall on one side to serve as storage and house the refrigerator, maintaining functionality without compromising openness.

Project gallery